Isaiah 19 the Danger of Misplaced Dependence

Isaiah 19 – The Danger of Misplaced Dependence

1 An oracle concerning Egypt.
Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud
and comes to Egypt;
and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence,
and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians,
and they will fight, each against another
and each against his neighbor,
city against city, kingdom against kingdom;
3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out,
and I will confound their counsel;
and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers,
and the mediums and the necromancers;
4 and I will give over the Egyptians
into the hand of a hard master,
and a fierce king will rule over them,
declares the Lord God of hosts.
5 And the waters of the sea will be dried up,
and the river will be dry and parched,
6 and its canals will become foul,
and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up,
reeds and rushes will rot away.
7 There will be bare places by the Nile,
on the brink of the Nile,
and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched,
will be driven away, and will be no more.
8 The fishermen will mourn and lament,
all who cast a hook in the Nile;
and they will languish
who spread nets on the water.
9 The workers in combed flax will be in despair,
and the weavers of white cotton.
10 Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed,
and all who work for pay will be grieved.
11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish;
the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel.
How can you say to Pharaoh,
“I am a son of the wise,
a son of ancient kings”?
12 Where then are your wise men?
Let them tell you
that they might know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan have become fools,
and the princes of Memphis are deluded;
those who are the cornerstones of her tribes
have made Egypt stagger.
14 The Lord has mingled within her a spirit of confusion,
and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds,
as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
15 And there will be nothing for Egypt
that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do.
16 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה מִצְרַיִם כַּנָּשִׁים וְחָרַד וּפָחַד מִפְּנֵי תְּנוּפַת יַד־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר־הוּא מֵנִיף עָלָיו
17 וְהָיְתָה אַדְמַת יְהוּדָה לְמִצְרַיִם לְחָגָּא כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יַזְכִּיר אֹתָהּ אֵלָיו יִפְחָד מִפְּנֵי עֲצַת יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר־הוּא יוֹעֵץ עָלָיו ס
18 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיוּ חָמֵשׁ עָרִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מְדַבְּרוֹת שְׂפַת כְּנַעַן וְנִשְׁבָּעוֹת לַיהוָה צְבָאוֹת עִיר הַהֶרֶס יֵאָמֵר לְאֶחָת ס
19 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה מִזְבֵּחַ לַיהוָה בְּתוֹךְ אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וּמַצֵּבָה אֵצֶל־גְּבוּלָהּ לַיהוָה
20 וְהָיָה לְאוֹת וּלְעֵד לַיהוָה צְבָאוֹת בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם כִּי־יִצְעֲקוּ אֶל־יְהוָה מִפְּנֵי לֹחֲצִים וְיִשְׁלַח לָהֶם מוֹשִׁיעַ וָרָב וְהִצִּילָם
21 וְנוֹדַע יְהוָה לְמִצְרַיִם וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת־יְהוָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וְעָבְדוּ זֶבַח וּמִנְחָה וְנָדְרוּ־נֵדֶר לַיהוָה וְשִׁלֵּמוּ
22 וְנָגַף יְהוָה אֶת־מִצְרַיִם נָגֹף וְרָפוֹא וְשָׁבוּ עַד־יְהוָה וְנֶעְתַּר לָהֶם וּרְפָאָם
23 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא תִּהְיֶה מְסִלָּה מִמִּצְרַיִם אַשּׁוּרָה וּבָא־אַשּׁוּר בְּמִצְרַיִם וּמִצְרַיִם בְּאַשּׁוּר וְעָבְדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת־אַשּׁוּר ס
24 בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁלִישִׁיָּה לְמִצְרַיִם וּלְאַשּׁוּר בְּרָכָה בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ
25 אֲשֶׁר בֵּרֲכוֹ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת לֵאמֹר בָּרוּךְ עַמִּי מִצְרַיִם וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי אַשּׁוּר וְנַחֲלָתִי יִשְׂרָאֵל ס / 16In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He is going to wave over them.
17 The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the LORD of hosts which He is purposing against them.
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of the Sun.
19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near its border.
20 It will become a sign and a witness of the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.
21 Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.
22 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.
23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,
25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."

Exegetical Outline/Structure of Text:

The result of the Lord’s judgment upon Egypt is that all their gods and counselors will be proved to be of no value/powerless to stop the desolation of their land and economy. (1-15)

The Lord is going to judge Egypt soon resulting in the trembling of the people and their gods. (1)
The Lord is going to judge Egypt soon. (1a)
The result of the Lord’s coming to Egypt is that both the Egyptians and their gods will tremble. (1b)

The Lord will cause violent dissension between the Egyptians at every level of society: individuals, cities, and kingdoms. (2)

The Egyptians will be emptied of motivation and counsel with the result that they will seek information from idols, sorcerers, mediums, and necromancers. (3)
The Egyptians will be emptied of motivation and counsel. (3a)
The result of the Egyptians emptiness, they will seek information from idols, sorcerers, mediums, and necromancers. (3b)

The Lord will allow the Egyptians to fall under harsh rule from a king. (4)

*The ultimate result of the water of Egypt drying up will be the desolation of the Egyptian economy at every societal level. (5-10)
The water of Egypt will dry up and kill the vegetation that depends on them. (5-7)
The water of Egypt will dry up. (5-6a)
The result of the water of Egypt drying up will be that the vegetation that depends on them will die. (6b-7)
The result of the water of Egypt drying up will be that the fisherman will be in distress. (8)
The result of the water of Egypt drying up will be that the flax and cotton workers will despair. (9)
The result of the water of Egypt drying up will be that the influential classes will be crushed and the workers will be grieved. (10)

The rulers and counselors of Egypt will be proved foolish because God will confuse them, causing them to lead their land into ruin. (11-14)
The reason the rulers and counselors are proved foolish is because they cannot tell what the Lord has purposed for Egypt. (12)
The rulers and counselors of Egypt will be proved foolish. (11)
The reason the rulers and counselors are proved foolish is because they cannot tell what the Lord has purposed for Egypt. (12)
The rulers and counselors of Egypt will be made foolish. (13a)
The source of the foolishness of Egypt’s counselors is the Lord, who confused them. (14a)
The result of the foolishness of Egypt’s counselors is that they have led them into ruin. (14b)

Egypt is powerless to overcome the judgment of God upon Egypt. (15)

Outline Structured by the repetition of “In that day”]

The result of the Lord's judgment of Egypt (1-15) is that… [in the future Egypt will…]

In the future Egypt will be terrified and weak before Judah because God has purposed to act against them. (16-17)
In the future Egypt will be terrified and weak. (16)
The result of the Lord's judgment of Egypt is that they will fear Judah. (17a)
The reason that Egypt will be terrified and weak is because God purposed to do act against them. (17b)

In the future five cities (including the city of the Sun) will adopt loyalty to and the language of the Lord's people. (18)

In the future an altar and a pillar for the worship of the Lord will be built in Egypt to symbolize their reliance upon the Lord, who delivered them from oppression when they cried out to Him. (19-22)
In the future an altar and a pillar for the worship of the Lord will be built in Egypt. (19)
The function of the altar and pillar in Egypt will be a symbol of Egypt's loyalty to the Lord. (20a)
The reason Egypt will have these signs of loyalty to Yahweh is because He will deliver them when they cry out to Him in oppression. (20b)
The purpose of these events will be for the Lord to make Himself known to Egypt. (21a)
The result of these events will be that the Egyptians know the Lord, even to the point of worshiping with sacrifices, offerings, and the fulfillment of vows. (21b)
The reason that the Lord will strike Egypt will be to causing them to return to the Lord for healing. (22)

In the future there will be a highway between Egypt and Assyria because they will worship together in both countries. (23)

In the future Israel will be one of three nations that worship the Lord and provide a blessing to the earth: Egypt will be called God's people, Assyria will be called the world of God's hands, and Israel will be called God's special possession. (24a)
In the future Israel will be one of three nations that worship the Lord. (24a)
Their worship will cause the Lord to bless the earth. (24b-25a)
Egypt will be called God's people, Assyria will be called the world of God's hands, and Israel will be called God's special possession. (25b) [designates covenant relationship?]

In the future Egypt will rightly revere Judah as God’s people, fearing them, acting in loyalty, and adopting their language in certain cities (16-17).
In the future Egypt will be terrified and weak before Judah because God has purposed to act against them. (16-17)
In the future Egypt will be terrified and weak. (16)
The result of the Lord's judgment of Egypt is that they will fear Judah. (17a)
The reason that Egypt will be terrified and weak is because God purposed to do act against them. (17b)
In the future five cities (including the city of the Sun) will adopt loyalty to and the language of the Lord's people. (18)

In the future God’s enemy, Egypt, will join them and Assyria in worshipping the Lord in an intimate covenantal relationship. (19-25)
In the future an altar and a pillar for the worship of the Lord will be built in Egypt to symbolize their reliance upon the Lord, who delivered them from oppression when they cried out to Him. (19-22)
In the future an altar and a pillar for the worship of the Lord will be built in Egypt. (19)
The function of the altar and pillar in Egypt will be a symbol of Egypt's loyalty to the Lord. (20a)
The reason Egypt will have these signs of loyalty to Yahweh is because He will deliver them when they cry out to Him in oppression. (20b)
The purpose of these events will be for the Lord to make Himself known to Egypt. (21a)
The result of these events will be that the Egyptians know the Lord, even to the point of worshiping with sacrifices, offerings, and the fulfillment of vows. (21b)
The reason that the Lord will strike Egypt will be to causing them to return to the Lord for healing. (22)
In the future there will be a highway between Egypt and Assyria because they will worship together in both countries. (23)
In the future Israel will be one of three nations that worship the Lord and provide a blessing to the earth: Egypt will be called God's people, Assyria will be called the world of God's hands, and Israel will be called God's special possession. (24a)
In the future Israel will be one of three nations that worship the Lord. (24a)
Their worship will cause the Lord to bless the earth. (24b-25a)
Egypt will be called God's people, Assyria will be called the world of God's hands, and Israel will be called God's special possession. (25b) [designates covenant relationship?]

Key Observations:

Audience: Israel

Occasion: During the reigns of the kings in Isaiah’s day, Egypt was primarily viewed as a valuable ally against the Assyrian and Babylonian threats. The temptation was to rely upon an agreement with them.

This specific prophecy does not condemn Egypt for sinful actions. The first section truly portrays Egypt as learning by the experience of being led into desolation that their gods are not helpful. The second section portrays Egypt as learning by experience that depending on the Lord brings deliverance.

Exegetical Proposition: [based on the audience, Israel]

The reason that Israel should not place their trust in Egypt is…

The current generation will be driven into desolation by God to prove that depending on their wisdom and idols is worthless. (1-15)
Resulting in a future generation worshipping and depending on the Lord (and revering Judah), as Israel should be doing. (16-25)

Exegetical Proposition: [based on the audience, Egypt]

God’s plan for Egypt is to…

Drive current generation into desolation to prove that depending on their wisdom and idols is worthless. (1-15)
Resulting in a future generation worshipping and depending on the Lord (and revering Judah), as Israel should be doing. (16-25)

Exegetical Proposition/CPT:

Exegetical Proposition: The reason that Israel should not place their trust in Egypt is because the current generation will be driven into desolation by God to prove that depending on their wisdom and idols is worthless (1-15), resulting in a future generation worshipping and depending on the Lord (and revering Judah), as Israel should be doing now. (16-25)

Theme: The reason that Israel should not place their trust in Egypt

Thrust: because the current generation will be driven into desolation by God to prove that depending on their wisdom and idols is worthless (1-15), resulting in a future generation worshipping and depending on the Lord (and revering Judah), as Israel should be doing now. (16-25)

Expositional Proposition:

The reason God’s people should not place our trust in the protection of secular aid is because God desires for all of us to depend on Him, and He will craft life’s circumstances in a way that drives us away from dependence upon other things and toward dependence upon Him.

Purpose Bridge: To challenge my fellow DTS students to avoid trusting in the protection of secular aid, recognizing that God crafts life’s circumstances in a way that drives us toward dependence upon Him.

Homiletical Proposition/CPS:

Avoid trusting in the protection of secular aid— recognizing that God crafts life’s circumstances in a way that drives us toward dependence upon Him.

Theme: Avoid trusting in the protection of secular aid!

Thrust: Because you recognize that God crafts life’s circumstances in a way that drives us toward dependence upon Him.

Sermon Assembly Notes

Dilemma: Is oppression or failure really against what God desires for me?

Perhaps it is His way of driving me from my dependence upon the secular: aid, wisdom, etc.

Dilemma: What secular things are we trusting in?

U.S. Government? Other Government? For protection. (personal rights, no taxes)

Secular President? Secular Leaders?

Police. For rescue.

Secular Marketing Strategies or Technological Innovations (for success)

Academic Knowledge and Degrees (for security)

Alliances:

Worldly Wisdom/Idols:

Dilemma: When I am oppressed or failing, that is precisely when very unethical options also become extremely attractive.

Sometimes the lesson is only learned by the generation after us. [Egypt – good ending point]

Illustration: Things I learned from my family’s failures

What is at stake?

If we depend on secular wisdom or leadership to provide success, we are setting ourselves up for great disappointment, because God’s pattern of work is to drive those with that dependence into ruin, so that they replace the object of their dependence with God.

If we give up because of opposition or failure, we may miss the goal God had in allowing those circumstances to come against us. He wanted us to depend on Him, and not on any secular aid or wisdom.

Key Question: God, is my life the way it is right now, to teach me to depend upon you?

Key Thought: True failure, is failure to depend on God.

Illustrations:

Egypt, Iran – oppressive Muslim religion drives more people toward Christianity

My House and short sale temptation

“In God We Trust” removed from dollar coins (false, it is on the side of the coin)

My Difficulty with Failure:

My Strengths Profile: Maximizer, Strategist, Responsibility – I prize being above average

I hate criticism that puts me below standard: writing, driving, preaching, etc.

Never one to turn in a late assignment

Never one to miss an appointment

I can’t stand the thought of someone being mad at me because I failed to fulfill a promise.

Common Nightmare: finding out there’s something keeping me from graduation

Stressors: Assignments, Thesis, and lack of job prospects.

Paralyzed by the fear of failing in the next career I pursue.

Risks are necessary to make an impact.

Failure is inevitable.

The potential for failure exists for us personally, organizationally, and nationally.

Sometimes God orchestrates failure.

Homiletical Outline/Sermon Structure:

LONG VERSION

INTRODUCTION:

1. (Image) . . . The fear of failure in my life can be paralyzing.

But I know that there is also a great need to take risks and that failure is inevitable.

The potential for failure exists on many levels: personal, organizational, and national.

2. (Need) . . . Sometimes God intentionally orchestrates failure for His purposes. Our approach to the situation may be causing God to thrust us toward failure. We need to why God would thrust us toward failure and how God intends to use challenging circumstances in our lives. We need to understand how important the direction of our trust is in determining our success or failure.

3. (Subject) . . . Avoid trusting in the protection of secular aid—recognizing that God crafts life’s circumstances in a way that drives us toward dependence upon Him. True Failure, is failure to depend on God.